by S. Koontz

Created on: December 06, 2007

A rune like any other ideograph is merely a frozen symbol of an actual state or concept by definition. The Elder Futhark Runes are a set of 24 alphabet letters, and a blank known as "Wyrd". The word rune is said to have come from the Indo-European word "ru" which means "secret thing" and the old Germanic word "runa" which means "whisper". The runic alphabet begins with the letters F, U, Th, R, K hence the name "Futhark."

The rune alphabet was brought about by the increase of trading activity with Mediterranean neighbors who already possessed a fully developed alphabet. Before the alphabet the runes were primarily a magiakal system of pictographs representing the forces and objects of nature. The archaic letters of the Germanic people, in part derived from the Roman alphabet in which curved and horizontal lines are avoided. Runes can be written from right to left, left to right, alternating between two, top to bottom, curled and spiraled, etc., making it extremely difficult to translate. From the earliest runic inscriptions it is clear that orthographic conventions were flexible with regard to the direction of writings. The runic alphabet developed form two main sources magical and literate.

Early runes represented ideas and concepts which were incorporated into the names of the runes. Exact meanings have been lost, but historians believe that they were used for divination or lost casting. It was believed that by calling upon the appropriate rune one could thereby make contact with the force in nature the symbol represented. Manuscript sources including a variety of so called rune poems in various languages spell out the significance of each character in detail. The name of the rune possesses a specific sound or vibration energy. That sound denotes the height level of underlying spiritual meaning of the runic symbol.

Runes can be used for divination. If one is using stones they can be cast form a pouch and read. Some choose to cast aside the runes drawn blank side up. One good way to learn the runes and gain some of the inherent wisdom is to mediate on each rune individually. The runes provide knowledge by which choices can be made. Magik is an orderly science and the more orderly and harmonious it's tools the better the out come.

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